Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-23
YE RELIABLE REPORTER.
HE FIRST FILLS US UP WITH THE
HORRORS OF THE BLIZZARD

And Then Tells Us the Whole Story Is .
Muihattonism-Sixty People Reported
Frozen to Death Under Most Pitiable
Circumstances, and the Report Declared
a Gigantic Romance.
WICHITA, Kan, Dec 23-Additional and
final details of the results OF the recent bliz-
zard were received Thursday, which place it
as the worst ever known in the state The
number of deaths by freezing and starvation
is now believed to be at least sixty. Few
eastern residents of the state really thought
such an alarming state of affairs existed
and they are now most literally responding
to calls for aid j. Packney, mayor OF Ash
land, Clark county, reached this city Thurs
day morning, and from him the story Of the
storm in that county was learned. He said:
when the blizzard struck the western set
tiers last Monday they were in many in
stances entirely out of fuel Sunday was
mild and pleasant day. and no one seemed
prepared for the fearful storm that followed
About 10 o'clock on Monday snow began
falling, which soon grew INTO blizzard. The
wind came from the forth, and the snow
soon became binding. 1t was almost impos-
ible for any one to travel in the storm.
1.-TWO men named John Henry and John
Cotter, en- route to Texas, left Ashland an
hour before the storm began. Their bodies
were found the next day on the prairie, five
miles west Of town. frozen stiff The team
which they had with them was found fully
twenty miles south. The animals drifted
with the wind. and, becoming exhausted,
sank into the snow and died. As soon as the
storm ceased rescuing parties left Ashland
| A sod-house was the first entered, and pitt
full sight met the gaze OF the rescuers The
entire family OF five, named kanous were
found frozen stiff. Some were sitting bolt
upright on stools, while the mother OF the
family lay dead in bed No fuel could be
| found about the place. The rescuing party
| gathered the bodies together and brought
them to Ashland, where they were buried.
"Bruce C. Freddy, a real estate agent OF
Ashland who had been out in the country
\ looking at claim, was found dead about
half mile from the limits of the town. He
had started home before the storm overlook
him, but lost his way and persisted"
When Mayor Packney left his home
| Wednesday no other bodies had been recov-
cred, but the town had been turned into a
hospital for those who had not been fatally
frozen A great number had limbs frozen,
| which, in several cases, necessitated amputa-
ton.
| A gentleman from Greeley county gives
even a more startling account Three men
left Horace intending to go to claims
a short distance from town. They wandered
around all night, and finally one Of them, a
Mr. Gibbs, sank exhausted in the snow His
companions could not induce him to continue
the tramp in search of shelter, and were COM
PEELED to leave him His body was found the
| next day The other two men kept on and
finally reached dug-out, where they gained
shelter. Both had their arms, feet and ears
frozen and can not live.
The same gentleman tells a distressing
story of the death OF an emigrant, together
with his wife and child They went to q
ranch just before the blizzard became seri
GUS and asked to be taken in and sheltered
| The ranchman refused to receive them and
after wandering on some distance the biz
zard became so severe that the horses became
unmanageable and turned the wagon over
throwing out the mother and child Ths
baby soon succumbed, and then the mother
uicN. uc ldLuoI dlll uusDdhu GONci Oh tut
bodies with the wagon-box, and started GU
to find shelter for himself His hallooing final
ly attracted settlers, and the emigrant wa
taken in and warmed, but it was too late
Both feet were frozsn, and before a physi
clan could be summoned he died.
A widowed mother, with 16-year
old son and younger daughter in Comancht
county, are dead, but their names can no
now be learned. The son was sent out By
bis mother in search OF fuel After wait
for some time for his return the mother AM
daughter attempted to 60 to the house o
their nearest neighbor. All three lost thei
way in the binding storm aud persisted.
Three deaths are reported from Ford county
twelve from Mead county, and five froE
Stevens county; but it is impossible to lear
the names as no direct communication
possible with those counties Private di.
patches from Lane Scott and Wichita cour
ties give equally as horrible details Mr.
Riley and her two children were frozen t
death near Dighton, Lane county, while ST
deaths are reported from Greeley, nine fror
Wichita, and three from Scott county Man
new counties are located seyenty-tivs an
$50 miles from Geographic communication
and details come in slowly.
Citizens Of this city held public meetin
, Thursday night to raise funds and provision
for settlers, and the sufferers will be proper
ly taken care Of A train load of provision
will leave Wichita for the west in time t
reach the needy by Sunday, and will b
given them as Christmas present Othe
cities and towns in the state will also col
|, tribute corn, wheat, coal and clothing, an
it is believed the state will be able to tax
care of all sufferers The blizzard was IL
worst that ever ragged over Kansas since
was inhabited and the mortality to stock
very large. The weather moderated lit